This method allows of the easy removal of any plate without damage, either to the plate or the album, as often as may be desired. The convenience of this will be readily appreciated by veteran collectors, who know how often one wants to exchange one plate for another, and how many good examples have been damaged in the attempt to remove them when once they have been firmly fixed down with gum or “stickphast” paste. Albums are more convenient for large plates than the cases. They are also better adapted for showing off several varieties of a plate on one page, whilst, for collections in large numbers, they are certainly rather cheaper. [Illustration: BOOK-PLATE OF THE BIBLIOPHILE JACOB (PAUL LACROIX).] [Illustration] CHAPTER III. A FEW NOTES ON FRENCH HERALDRY. Although the nomenclature and fundamental rules of heraldry in France are somewhat similar to those in use in Great Britain, yet in many important details the two systems differ materially. To show, first of all, the close family resemblance in nomenclature, an amusing copy of verses may be given from an old work (carefully preserving the quaint orthography of the original), of which the title was: “La Sience de la Noblesse ou la Nouvelle Metode du Blason,” par le P. C. F. Menestrier. A Paris, chez Etiene Michallet, premier Imprimeur du Roi, rue S. Jaque, a l’Image S. Paul, MDCXCI. ABRÉGÉ DU BLASON EN VERS. “Le Blason composé de diferens emaux, N’a que 4 couleurs, 2 panes, 2 metaux. Et les marques d’honeur qui suivent la naissance, Distinguent la Noblesse, & font sa recompense. Or, argent, sable, azur, gueules, sinople, vair, Hermine, au naturel & la couleur de chair, Chef, pal, bande, sautoir, face, barre, bordure, Chevron, pairle, orle, & croix de diverse figure. Et plusieurs autres corps nous peignent la valeur, Sans metal sur metal, ni couleur sur couleur. Suports, cimier, bourlet, cri de guerre, devise, Colliers, manteaux, honeurs, & marques de l’Eglise, Sont de l’art du Blason les pompeux ornemens, Dont les corps sont tirés de tous les Elemens, Les astres, les rochers, fruits, fleurs, arbres & plantes, Et tous les animaux de formes differentes, Servent à distinguer, les fiefs & les maisons, Et des Communautés composent les Blasons. De leurs termes precis enoncez les figures, Selon qu’elles auront de diverses postures. Le Blason plein echoit en partage à l’ainé, Tout autre doit briser comme il est ordonné.” The _deux panes_ in the second line refers to furs (_pannes_ in modern heraldry). This book is illustrated, and in it the tinctures are correctly represented by lines and dots, and the remark is made “Autrefois on marquoit les Emaux par des lettres,” but the author does not allude to the invention of the system of dots and lines attributed to Father Silvestre Petra Sancta.